The left-handed Gayle, controversially dropped from regional side for the first two Tests against Australia, smashed 15 fours and three sixes off 174 balls in 198 minutes at the crease in the Vice-Chancellor’s XI’s total of 290 on the fast lush-green outfield.

At the close, Australia, who rested Test quintet Ricky Ponting, Matthew Hayden, Darren Lehmann, Brett Lee and Jason Gillespie were 61 without loss in 17 overs with openers Justin Langer and Jimmy Maher, both on 28.

Re-instated in the West Indies’ third-Test team on the eve of the match, Gayle christened the scenic University ground, which was hosting its maiden first-class match with a sparkling knock, which was embellished with several disdainful shots.

Gayle shared an enterprising three-hour second-wicket partnership of 195 runs with Barbadian Jason Haynes, who batted impressively for 58 in his debut first-class match.

Haynes, a 21-year-old left-hander of similar built to Gayle, batted solidly and sensibly in an eye-catching three-hour knock, which was studded with seven fours and a six off 109 balls.

He displayed immense powers of concentration during his innings after coming to the crease following the first-over dismissal of captain Philo Wallace and was the perfect foil for the gallant Gayle.

The Empire opener also executed some elegant and electrifying shots of his own, lifting left-arm spinner Brad Hogg for a six over long on, to move to 47 even though he thought he had reached his fifty at that stage.

In that same over, Gayle hoisted Hogg over long on for another six and then cover-drove him for four.

After finally posting his half-century, Haynes effortlessly on-drove ace Australian pacer Glenn McGrath to the long-on boundary but the experienced bowler then induced him into miscuing a pull for a simple catch at mid-wicket.

Earlier, Gayle had motored to 81 not out as the Vice-Chancellor's XI motored to 127 for the solitary loss of Wallace, out for four in the day’s first over from McGrath.

Wallace stirred the fair-sized crowd with a savage pull to the midwicket fence off the first ball he faced from McGrath, who responded with four outswingers, the last of which he snicked to wicketkeeper Jimmy Maher.

Gayle and Haynes then mixed defence with aggression in a responsible partnership, which saw the 100 coming in only 86 minutes and 200 runs in 181 minutes.

Gayle was particularly severe on Ashley Noffke, hooking him for a huge six over midwicket and driving him through the covers for two fours as the rookie Australian fast bowler was clobbered for 29 runs in his first three overs.

Gayle sped to his fifty off just 59 balls in 68 minutes with eight fours and one six while he added three more fours and two sixes in motoring to his century in 147 minutes off 126 balls.

After passing the landmark, Gayle seemed to slightly injure his leg when he pulled Noffke over midwicket for four but he continued batting and was finally out when he swept against the spin of MacGill and spooned a catch to midwicket.

His dismissal at 212 for three, led to a middle and lower order collapse as the last seven wickets fell for 78 runs with spinners MacGill and Hogg combining for all the wickets to fall.

David Bernard, who hit three fours in an over from MacGill before falling to the final ball for 28 and Kenyan Collins Obuya (17) gave the innings a late boost.

But Hogg took three of the last four wickets to boost his final bowling figures of three for 94 while McGrath, having his first bowl since belatedly arriving in the Caribbean, took two for 41 in 11 overs.

VICE-CHANCELLOR XI 1st innings
C.Gayle c Noffke b MacGill 129

P.Wallace c wkpr Maher b McGrath 4

J.Haynes c Williams b McGrath 58

D.Balgobin c Waugh b MacGill 1

R.Powell stp. Maher b MacGill 7

M.Clarke c Hogg b MacGill 0

D.Bernard c Bichel b MacGill 28

M.Sinclair c Love b Hogg 5

C.Obuya lbw b Hogg 17

C.Collymore not out 10

A.Richardson c Love b Hogg 1

Extras: (b-3, lb-13, nb-14) 30

Total: (all out, 71 overs) 290

Fall of wickets: 1-5, 2-200, 3-212, 4-215, 5-221, 6-226, 7-235, 8-264, 9-278.

Bowling: McGrath 11-0-41-2, Williams 8-0-28-0, Noffke 12-0-61-0 (nb-11), Hogg 23-3-94-3, MacGill 13-2-40-5 (nb-3), Clarke 4-0-10-0.

AUSTRALIA 1st innings
J.Langer not out 28

J.Maher not out 28

Extras: (lb-1, nb-4) 5

Total: (without loss, 17 overs) 61

Bowling: Collymore 6-1-19-0 (nb-1), Richardson 5-0-25-0, Bernard 4-0-12-0 (nb-2), Obuya 1-0-3-0 (nb-1), Gayle 1-0-1-0.